In 1945, Grand Rapids, Mich., became the first U.S. city to add fluoride to its drinking water. The purpose was to help prevent tooth decay; the commensurate result was an unending debate about the effectiveness and the supposed drawbacks of fluoride.

So, in these particularly contentious times, it is not surprising that fluoridation has resurfaced as a political football, with the Camas City Council moving toward halting the city's 60-year practice of adding fluoride to its public drinking water. The council has voted 4-2 to instruct the city's attorney to draft an ordinance to end the practice.

City Councilor Tim Hein said: "I don't believe the general population should be exposed to fluoride if they don't want to. I do believe fluoride works. I believe it should be up to those who want it to get it."

That is a reasonable opinion. With almost all commercially sold toothpastes containing fluoride, and with fluoride supplements readily available, the public has access to a mineral that has been proven to protect tooth enamel and reduce the occurrence of dental cavities.